bring on the burgers | Mission Taco in Kirkwood is serving up something unexpected. The restaurant has a test kitchen that it hasn’t been able to use due to the pandemic, but chef and co-owner Jason Tilford is breaking it in with a pop-up menu for a new concept, Off the Wall Burgers. Along with burgers, it features classic boardwalk eats like french fries, hot dogs, chili and thin-sliced onion tangles. The new menu is now available for carryout and curbside pickup.
sweets to beat
If you’ve flipped to Food Network lately, you may have seen a local face. Deva Williamson is a member of the red team on the new competition show Candy Land. Hosted by Kristin Chenoweth, the show features teams of pastry chefs and confectioners who must complete challenges themed around the classic board game for a chance to win $25,000. Williamson is the owner of Big Laugh Kitchen. She also offers workshops in cake decorating, baking and cake photography.
s’more fun
If you’re planning on warming up around the fire on chilly winter nights, Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery has your snacking needs covered. The local microcreamery is launching new s’mores kits, which will be sold in all four brick-and-mortar locations and online at clementinescreamery.com.
something’s brewing
Scratch Brewing Co. in Ava, Illinois, is coming to the StL. The James Beard Award-nominated brewery’s beers will be available in local stores. It also has entered a partnership with Rob Connoley’s Bulrush in Midtown. The restaurant, which serves cuisine inspired by the Ozarks and made with foraged ingredients, will keep two Scratch brews on tap.
opens + closes
UKRAFT is opening a second location downtown in Peabody Plaza. The restaurant, which focuses on sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups, launched as a food truck in 2018. … Looking for a sweet treat? Pharaoh’s Donuts’ second location at 8 Maryland Plaza is now open in the Central West End. … Chiang Mai is serving northern Thai cuisine in Webster Groves at 8185 Big Bend Blvd. The space is the former home of Tei Too. … Last year, Brennan’s announced it would be leaving 4695 Maryland Ave. to make room for the St. Louis Chess Club expansion. It’s now open again just around the corner at 316 N. Euclid Ave. … A CWE fave has closed its doors for good. Last month, the owners of Cafe Osage announced the restaurant’s closure. It opened in 2008 at 4605 Olive St. as part of Bowood Farms.